Re: When is marijuana OK

It was an awkward moment, quickly brushed aside by our collective desire to keep an agreeable evening relatively agreeable. But it led us to wonder — just what is the current etiquette on marijuana usage?

It turns out we’re not the only ones asking. At a time when smoking marijuana is increasingly mainstream, legal and socially acceptable — a recent Quinnipiac poll showed that 51 percent of respondents believe it should be decriminalized — when and where to inhale is a question flummoxing regular smokers, part-time partakers and nonsmokers alike.

After all, cannabis is now legal for recreational use in Colorado and Washington state and technically legal — although not yet legally available — for medicinal use right here in the District.

A new challenge is figuring out how we’re all supposed to navigate dinners, cocktail parties, barbecues and cross-generational family get-togethers as more people liken puffing on a joint to sipping a glass of wine, while others still consider it a malodorous habit that’s best done not at all, or at least far from our house.

Gee, remember when people used to get offended by people smoking tobacco? Even nearly 40 years ago, it became such an offensive practice that Steve Martin’s breakout standup-comedy routine included this:

Tobacco just doesn’t have the same libertarian cachet as marijuana, apparently. I wonder how long that will last after Brown & Williamson start selling it in packs.

Blowback

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I can’t believe this even needs to be asked. Unlike the dubious terrors of second hand smoke there is definitely something called a contact high. If the host doesn’t pull out the weed first, or ask if anybody has any, only an idiot would think it’s okay to smoke there.

If you go to a dinner party where no alcohol is served do you whip out your flask? No.

I think pot should only be smoked to get the munchies after nausea from chemotherapy, for treatment of glaucoma (or maybe that’s the biggest urban myth out there?!) or for artistic inspiration, like a jazz musician, interior decorator, or a blogger beta-male with cats seeking inspiration for a post on the effect of the Fed’s monetary policy on the decisions of the big banks bailed out with TARP versus smaller, local banks. Or, of course, for computer programmers, who can’t work without it.

Brown & Williamson, Phillip Morris/Altria, RJR Nabisco, and all of the existing tobacco companies are the prefect sales channels for recreative marijuana…They are used to dealing with government regulations, BATF, and such. Marijuana will be one of the many new ‘revenue’ streams.

Just say yes to supporting Washington’s spending addiction.

Naturally I look forward to the lawsuits by the states that will be filed for lieing to users that marijuana use is addictive. Some one queue up Mike Cerisi or some other favored democrat lawyer/firm to file the lucrative suit.

I think pot should only be smoked to get the munchies after nausea from chemotherapy, for treatment of glaucoma (or maybe that’s the biggest urban myth out there?!)
Paul-Cincy on January 14, 2013 at 2:14 PM

Before voting on it for medical use here in MA I did some research and found it’s alleged to be helpful for glaucoma, high blood pressure and anxiety. I suffer from the first two and have periodic bouts of the other. Tuesday I’m going for my annual check-up so I plan to ask my doc what he thinks about it. Not that I could/would use it. My employer does random drug testing and has said they would not allow it for medical purposes or if it became legal. I think that will be how the whole issue is addressed anyway. Employers will just say that they are “Weed” free and continue to test potential employees for it.

Naturally I look forward to the lawsuits by the states that will be filed for lieing to users that marijuana use is addictive. Some one queue up Mike Cerisi or some other favored democrat lawyer/firm to file the lucrative suit.

abnormal_1 on January 14, 2013 at 3:02 PM

I don’t see how they would have standing. It’s illegal in most states so it’s addictive potential is not a factor.

Watch those prices plummet even more once the ‘novelty’ of ‘newness’ and legalization wears off – and legalization multiplies across the country every election year for the foreseeable future. Much like new appliances and other electronic ‘gadgets’. VCR’s and Microwave ovens cost thousands of dollars at first. Now one is all but extinct – replaced by another appliance that cost thousands of dollars at first and is less than $50 now – and the other can do everything but mix the ingredients and serve your food to your plate – for less than a hundred fifty bucks.

I suspect that most businesses, if not all, will have to ban the ‘smoking’ in order to placate most of their customer base. The reprobate politicians will ban it for sure regardless. But they won’t ban the ‘vaping’. There’s no cause to and you can eschew a good portion of your customer base for only so long before you haven’t got a business to run anymore. Vape cigarettes have been extremely successful. Bars and restaurants are filled with vapers – since the smoking is outlawed.

The same will happen here too. The non-debate debate is over before it even starts. And now you’re armed with fact, too.

Not around me or my child. If you smoke it by me or my child, one of us is leaving. Probably you, right now. You will probably get more and more rights, though, so eventually it will be me and my child.

Not around me or my child. If you smoke it by me or my child, one of us is leaving. Probably you, right now. You will probably get more and more rights, though, so eventually it will be me and my child.

If it’s such a medical miracle, put it in pill form and script it to patients who need it. Otherwise, admit that pot has no medicinal value other than to get the patient “high” to temporarily relieve pain.

As for parties- even “right there in the District”, I say that’s fine, but you have to buy all your weed after 9pm in the Brentwood section of DC and everyone in your party must be unarmed.

Also..When someone’s doing something I don’t like…I take my kid by the hand and walk away…it’s generally a better strategy than
going to blows – and maiming someone in front of my daughter.

Tim_CA on January 14, 2013 at 4:16 PM

What in the world are you talking about?

I am answering the question “When is marijuana OK?”

My answer is: It is not ok around me or my kid. I don’t give a flip about you. You do what you want.

If your smoke is around me or my kid, and we are out in public, I will probably ask the server, owner of the business, etc., to have you leave. If they don’t, or you refuse, we’ll leave. No going to blows. If we are in a public park, we’ll leave, but might complain to the city. If we are at someone’s house, I would mention it to the owner, and if they don’t want you smoking, they will ask you to leave. If they are ok with it, we will leave.

No going to blows. If we are in a public park, we’ll leave, but might complain to the city. If we are at someone’s house, I would mention it to the owner, and if they don’t want you smoking, they will ask you to leave. If they are ok with it, we will leave.

cptacek on January 14, 2013 at 4:23 PM

Not around me or my child. If you smoke it by me or my child, one of us is leaving. Probably you, right now. You will probably get more and more rights, though, so eventually it will be me and my child.

I am curious about one aspect of all this reefer madness. If I get high in a state where it is legal and then apply for a job in a state where it is not. Do I still get the job even though I haven’t consumed any in the state where it is not legal. And….does it affect my owning guns? Not that I own any guns…….but if I did………would I still be able to partake in the consumption of pot and own guns at the same time. Or would it be a state thingy?

I’m not hiding behind anyone. I am telling you how I would handle someone smoking marijuana around me. The blog asked a question, and I answered it. Why do you have your panties in a twist because I won’t stay around someone who is smoking marijuana?

I’m not hiding behind anyone. I am telling you how I would handle someone smoking marijuana around me. The blog asked a question, and I answered it. Why do you have your panties in a twist because I won’t stay around someone who is smoking marijuana?

cptacek on January 14, 2013 at 4:45 PM

Not around me or my child. If you smoke it by me or my child, one of us is leaving. Probably you, right now. You will probably get more and more rights, though, so eventually it will be me and my child.